Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Last night I watched the infamous interview of producer Mark. L Rosen from the documentary "Snuff: A Documentary About Killing On Camera." I had seen the whole film about a year ago, but was reminded of that interview from the Film Vault podcast on the ACE network. I forgot how disturbing the story he tells is and it's really stuck with me all day.

Some background: Rosen was a big-time horror film producer, credited for producing classics like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. He was called by some men from the Phillipines about an unbelievable film they had to show him...looking for some funding and means to distribute it. They flew to Chicago to meet him and this is what happened...(follow the link to see the interview):

Pretty disturbing stuff. The legitimacy of the interview has been questioned by skeptics, those who say that the whole interview was scripted. I really can't decide what I personally think though. He delivers the story with such emotion and fear that it really is believable at times. I think the reason why I, and others, don't want to believe it's true is for the reason that Rosen himself brings up...that we don't WANT to believe that it's real; that we don't want to imagine a world where something like that exists. In reality, however, it probably does...

Here's the full trailer to the documentary:

Of course, the full doc can be found in parts on that Liveleak site...

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Spent last night checking out two movies - two VERY different movies. The first, "Dance of the Dead" is a fun, fast-paced zombie flick about a group of teens trying to rid their town of zombies. The citizens, of course, turned into zombies because of some hazardous run-off from a local power plant. Most of the movie takes place on the night of the high school prom.

Although it started off a bit slow (and also filled with some forced gags), I quickly came to love this movie once the zombie ass-kicking started. A few of my favorite scenes include: a zombie battle in the basement of a funeral home (I bet you can assume why this would be awesome), the Rambo-esque high school coach pulling a female zombie by her hair across a lawn and killing her with his bare hands, and the zombie on zombie make-out scene which ends probably how you'd imagine it ending...messy.

The next movie I checked out was "House of the Devil." I LOVE the way this movie was shot...it looks identical to the classic slasher flicks from the 80's - specifically, Halloween. The actual image is grainy and washed out, the camera angles are 80's-esque, and everyone and everything fits with the time period. Now, as far as the story goes...I was a bit disappointed.

It focuses on a young college girl strapped for cash who responds to a babysitting ad she sees on campus. She gets to the old house out in the middle of nowhere and learns that she is actually babysitting an elderly woman. From there, things go downhill pretty quickly. I really enjoyed the beginning and even middle of the film. It moves slowly, methodically, making your stomach churn as you watch the suspense rise. The end, however, was kind of a let-down. As realistic as it may have been, I was kind of expecting an all-out gore fest (based on a brutal scene early in the film). Even if you agree with me and don't enjoy the ending, at least check it out for its artistic direction.

Monday, June 13, 2011

So I caught myself watching Con-Air on TBS last night. Now, I usually vow to never watch ANY movie on cable TV, but I couldn't help myself. I love everything that's awful about this movie - Nick Cage's southern accent, the terrible one-liners, and the whole damn premise in general. However, one thing that is great about this movie is John Malkovich's character "Cyrus "The Virus" Grissum." He's the perfect mix of evil, wit, intelligence, and comedy. I feel like he's such an underrated villian just because of how awful the movie is. If you can just clear your brain of lines like "I told you to put the bunnay back in box," you can see what I mean. Here's two short scenes to illustrate:

See - simple, but effective. If I were Danny Trejo, I'd keep my dick in my pants. Also, I know I can't fly.

Now, I may be a little biased because I usually love anything including Malkovich and anything including Buscemi...and this movie has BOTH.

Also, it could be argued that Nick Cage has the BEST hair in any movie, ever:

God, look at those sweet locks. It's like Billy Ray Cyrus and Harry Dunne (Dumb and Dumber) had a child. Amazing.

Got these in the mail today. Been waiting for a few weeks now and was kind of nervous that I got gypped. Still waiting on my Japanese release of "Street Trash," but these should keep me occupied until it arrives.

Found an amazing indoor flea market one town over from me yesterday. Open every weekend and also have a HUGE market open every now and then at the Rosemont Theater (which I imagine is HUGE). Here's what I left with:

Friday, June 10, 2011

Originally thought that it was GIDORAH, not HEDORAH, but it's a bootleg anyways...

Going to a big neighborhood-wide garage sale tomorrow, hopefully I'll find some good stuff. I also just drove past a little mom and pop video store earlier this evening that I've never even noticed before (although I've driven past it a few times). The sign in the front sales "Rentals AND Sales," so I'm hoping I can buy some good finds for keeps.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

If you are a fan of movies, the loveline radio talkshow, the adam carolla podcast or all of the above - check out the Film Vault podcast. It's hosted by Bald Bryan from Carolla's podcast and Anderson from Loveline. Every episode features a themed top 5 list. I've listened to about 5 episodes so far and they've all been great. I really dig Anderson's taste in movies and Bald Bryan's distaste in Anderson's tastes.

There's something about this short piece that gives me goosebumps every time. I know it's been ridiculed for it's simplicity...I mean, anyone with Final Cut can easily do this, but it's still just so effective. It's an already emotional scene in the original, but somehow - with the use of the effect and the music - it's even more emotional. Now I just want to watch the whole original film...

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

It says "Hard Boiled" on the side, so thinking that it was the Chow Yun Fat Hard Boiled, I took it. Just popped it in my player to see that it's actually an old anime. Did some research and found out it's Robot Carnival.

(The last academic essay I've ever had to write, just completed for a Neo-Noir class)

Ridley Scott's Blade Runner is a film that is filled to the brim with symbolism and metaphors. It also seems to pose one key question - What is it that makes us human? Throughout the film, the aforementioned symbols and metaphors are presented in order to help us reach our own conclusion about this question. One important group of symbols within the film are those that relate to religion. There are those that appear obvious (even upon first the viewing of the film) and those that are much more hidden. It is important, however, to discuss the more obvious ones in order to get to the complex web of theology at the center of film.

The characters in the film share obvious connections with various religious figures. Eldon Tyrell plays the part of “God,” creating the Replicants himself. The four main Replicants that Deckard must Hunt down - Roy, Pris, Zora and Leon - “are fallen angels. They were given a four year lifespan. God created man and gave him a four–score lifespan. The parallels are quite apparent." The four are a small fraction of the Replicants created by Tyrell that were eventually sent to the “Otherworld,” because they posed a significant threat to the humans on earth. With their return to earth they become similar to fallen angels that can be found in biblical texts. This idea is highlighted visually (and quite obviously) in the scene in which Deckard shoots Zhora down after she flees. She is shot once on each shoulder blade – the same position in which one would find an angel's wings.

Tyrell is not the only character in the film that be connected to God. J.F. Sebastian plays an important role in the creation of the Replicants and is responsible in creating their eyes. While Tyrell gives them most of their physical attributes, Sebastian supplies the most crucial organ and gives them the ability of sight. Instead of being grateful for this, Roy uses Sebastian to merely meet his creator. This scene in particular evokes a number of different religious symbols and metaphors. Tyrell lives at the top of a gigantic pyramidal structure, much like those of the Egyptians. Egyptian pyramids were created to house mummified royalty and their treasures, which were believed to be brought with them to the afterlife. These structures were believed to be directly connected to places in the afterlife – heaven and hell. Roy and Sebastian ascend the ziggarat-like structure like an individual's soul would ascend to heaven to meet God.

Once inside Tyrell's room, Roy's actions present an opposition to the relationship between God and Jesus in biblical texts. Whereas Jesus dies by following the words of his father, Roy kills his “father” out of hatred and spite for controlling his mortality. Not only is Tyrell killed, but Sebastian also falls victim to Roy's rage. Although, this killing seems to more closely resemble the story of Judas and Jesus. Like Judas, Roy befriends Sebastian (Jesus), gains his trust, shows sympathy for him (since Sebastian must also deal with time and mortality due to an illness), but ultimately betrays him.

Shortly after Roy murders Tyrell and Sebastian, he is confronted by Deckard in Sebastian's apartment. Roy quickly turns the tables, however, and becomes the hunter. He stalks Deckard throughout the building and at one point pulls a nail out of a floorboard. In an obvious symbolic gesture, he inserts the nail into his palm, crucifying himself like Christ. Deckard eventually attempts to jump to a nearby roof , but comes up short and ends up clinging to the side of the building by one hand. Roy appears out of the darkness, nail in hand, cradling a white dove. The white dove is symbolic of peace and spirituality. As Deckard is about to plummet to his death “Batty grabs his hand and saves him. At last, he has freely chosen his essence by choosing to be a life giver rather than the life-taking combat model he was programmed to be." Roy then speaks about his memories and how he is about die. We see the dove fly into the air as he passes, symbolizing his ascent to a possible “heaven.”

While many viewpoints exist about the state of Deckard – human or Replicant – there is also an interesting relationship between himself, Roy, and Christ. While the above mentioned examples show the connections between Roy and Jesus, a few of Deckard's actions at the end of the film also relate him to the biblical figure. “Deckard, too, parallels Christ, particularly in his words to Gaff after the confrontation with Batty is over, "Finished," echoing Jesus's last words on the cross and announcing his retirement as a blade runner. He follows up these actions by becoming a savior to Rachel, another replicant condemned to death." In the end, Deckard becomes a savior to Rachel and attempts to help her gain the freedom she longs for. However, it is inevitable that like Roy, she too will meet her pre-determined end.

Upon researching the theme of religion in the film, I was able to create some of my own assumptions and theories as well. It is evident that throughout the film, Roy undergoes a transformation. The first time we are introduced to him he states that he would “Rather reign in hell than serve in heaven.” By reigning in hell, he is placing himself in the position of Satan or Lucifer. By the end of the film, illustrated by all of the visual symbols as well as the sacrifice he makes to save Decker, he becomes a Christ-like figure. This transformation reminded me of the “Temptation of Christ” texts within the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. After being baptized, Jesus fasted for weeks in the Judean desert. During this time, the devil appeared to Jesus and tempted him. After fighting each temptation, the devil finally departed. Angels then appeared to aid Jesus.

It would appear to me that in the beginning of the film, Roy is possessed by evil – spite and anger towards his creator for not allowing him the freedom of a long life. He is tempted by the devil with the possibility of immortality. He goes as far as killing Tyrell and Sebastian to get this, but to no avail. The point that signifies his transformation occurs quickly, in the moment that he saves Deckard's life. He could have easily killed him, but decided to take the last moments he had on earth to save a human being. As the dove ascends, we feel differently towards him. In the blink of an eye the evil that inhabited him throughout the film is reversed and we feel sympathetic towards him. Through his sacrifice he becomes a martyr for his cause – to gain the freedom of a long life for himself and for other Replicants.

I need this mixtape. I was in a mixtape phase a year or two ago, but never saved any of the ones i downloaded - Cathode Fuck, Retard-o-Tron, etc. I do, however, own a DVD copy of "Super Mecha Kucha Happy Fun Monkey Bash DX," which is full of two hours of the craziest Japanese shit you can find.

Also, I've been thinking...why don't they copy these mixtapes onto vhs? I assume it's a quality issue, but wouldn't it just add to the whole feeling of it all?

Just watched Dr. Lamb today. Simon Yam is fuckin CRAZY...howling' and swinging his imaginary buzzsaw. I was actually really impressed with the technical aspects of the movie - lighting, set, etc. I know this is supposed to be the CAT III film that kind of started them all, but I was expecting a little more craziness in the violence department. Onto "The Untold Story" next...

Also got this in the mail a few days ago from an ebay seller. I love this case:

Currently expecting via mail: an uncut, japanese version of "Street Trash," and a lot of 15 classic universal flicks.